Scripture:

13. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15. For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Song:

Video Clip:

Lesson:

What is a parable? The word parable comes from the Greek word paraballo, which means to compare. A parable is a simple story which compares common experiences to divine truths. Jesus often taught in parables because a parable conveys to it’s listener religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith. If you do not listen with your heart it is merely a story. If you do listen with your heart it reveals important principles such as compassion, integrity, work, and repentance. By living by these important principles we will become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

In our scripture study this week, we are learning about the parable of the sower, the parable of the wheat and the tares, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the treasure and pearls. In these parables, Jesus is teaching us about the Kingdom of Heaven, which in these stories represents Christ’s true church upon the earth. As you read these parables, what do you learn as you listen with your heart?

Quote:

“Each of the parables spoken by the Savior seems to teach a principle or give an admonition regarding the attributes necessary to qualify for exaltation.” Howard W. Hunter

Story:

At the end of their first school year the two friends were given a reading test. The first friend did very well on the test, while the second friend didn’t do very well.

During summer break the first friend played outside from sunrise to sunset, while the second friend went inside early each day to read.

The first friend bragged that he could play all day and didn’t have to read because he was smarter. The second friend would sometimes resent having to stay in the house and read, but his mother always made sure that he had fun books to read. Once a week she would take him to the library where he would checkout the books he wanted to read that week and once a month she would take him to the bookstore to buy a book to keep for his very own.

Soon the second friend became a better reader. Once he became a better reader, he began to like reading.

There were days he chose to read for longer than an hour. The more he read the better reader he became.

By the end of the summer he had read over one hundred books.

The first friend had forgotten a lot of what he had learned the year before, while the second friend had improved over the summer.

The first friend looked on the second friend’s paper for the answers. Each friend scored 100% on the test.

The second friend didn’t know that his friend had cheated.

Even though the first friend had cheated, he bragged to the second friend that he got 100% on the reading test without having to read during the summer. The second friend didn’t let his friends bragging bother him. He was just happy that reading during the summer had helped him do better on the reading test.

One day the friends’ school class had a spelling bee. The first friend misspelled the first word he was given, while the second friend spelled every word right and won the spelling bee.

When the second friend went home that night he gave his mother a kiss and a hug. He thanked her for helping him become a better reader, because being a better reader made him a better speller.

by Margie Nauta Lee

Music:

Activity idea:

Think of a simple story that could teach a gospel principle Use the provided stationery to write your own parable and illustrate it. Work together to create a family parable, or let each family member create their own!

Treat idea:

These lessons are perfect for Family Home Evening at the beginning of the week, or to recap the following Sunday. Or use portions of the lesson throughout the week to enhance your family scripture study.

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